The Artist, the Glitch, and the Multiverse

Plan

Hopeless.

Awful.

Despicable.

At first I think they're talking about the situation. Forming thoughts and words in my mind to describe the horrible things that are going on...

Feeble.

Imperfect.

Repellent.

But soon...

Unwanted.

Unloved.

Worthless.

I realize...

Nothing but a GLITCH.

They're talking about me.

Describing me.

...And I believe them.

I'm afraid. That's the first time I'll admit it to myself. I'm afraid of the voices. I'm afraid of the Eraser. Of being erased. Of the original timeline being lost.

You're so pathetic.

You can't stop it.

Can he really not see this ends in oblivion?

I panic. They're right. But I can't stop it. I never had friends, but I find myself worrying about people. Nightmare, in particular. Why? I never cared, so why care now? But I just can't find it in me not to care at this point.

"Uhm, should I leave or..?"

I look up to find Nightmare staring at me through a portal, Dust, Horror, Killer, and Cross behind him. 

"No, CoMe In," I say, almost laughing at the comment and how silly it sounds. Heh. "Come in." Such a casual statement for such a big moment.

Nightmare steps through the portal, shuffling to the side to allow the others to come in after him. He's staring in silent awe at the AUs displayed on paper around him. Each one so delicate and fragile in this exposed state. This is where they're weakest and easiest to destroy.

I know immediately what he's thinking.

"StOp StArInG, nIgHtMaRe. I kNoW wHaT yOu'Re ThInKiNg. We'Re HeRe To StOp ThE mUltIvErSe FroM bEiNg DeStRoYeD, nOt To DeStRoY iT." 

He grunts, not bothering to respond. 

"Speaking of that," Dust drawls casually, strolling over to glance at one of the AU papers. "Do any of you have the slightest idea how we're supposed to stop that wacko, psychotic, erase-everything-it-touches...thing?" 

No one responds to his smart remark. And Dust nods his head absently as he scans the lot of us for a reaction. 

"That's what I thought," he murmurs, almost sadly.

"So, we're basically here for nothing, then," Killer grumbles. 

0nO," I snap, loosing patience in their disloyalty. "i BrOuGhT yOu HeRe So We CaN fIgUrE tHiS oUt." 

"That's very unlike you, Error, to figure things out with others," Nightmare says, mocking me. "Spending too much time with that artist of yours?" 

I tense, growling at the dark octopus-skeleton. "NoT a WoRd AbOuT iNk." 

0Aww. How cute. You care for him..."

I take a deep breath. I know he's just mocking me and trying to make me mad. 

"InK aNd I hAvE a TrUcE. iT's a...ShAkY rElAtIoNsHiP. i SuGgEsT yOu DoN't PuSh It. ThAt Is, Of CoUrSe, UnLeSs YoU wAnT a FuLl BlOwN wAr On YoUr HaNdS."

"Jeez, Error. And I thought we were actually friends." The colorful skeleton pops out of a portal behind me and to the right startling me, smiling. Dream, Blue, Fell, Outer, and Sci follow him and crowd next to the others awkwardly to watch Ink and me talk.

I smirk. "Ha. WeLl, SoRrY tO dIsApPoInT."

"Ouch, Error." 

"C'mOn, ShOrTy. YoU kNoW i'M oNlY jOkInG." 

"Heh, I know." Suddenly, I notice something off.

'WhErE aRe ThE oThErS?" I ask, suddenly aware that not everyone is here. "FeLlSwAp. GeNo. FrEsH. ReApEr. SwApfElL. wHeRe ArE tHeY?" 

Ink stares straight into my eyes, and then shakes his head.

No.

Geno? Fresh? Gone? No. Geno was like a brother to me, and even Fresh wasn't the worst when it came down to it. They can't really be...

I stare at Ink, frozen momentarily in horror. They're gone. They're really gone. The artist's gaze soon changes from apologetic to worried. He walks up to me...and places a hand on my shoulder.

Normally, I'd freak out, but something about Ink's touch calms me. I swallow and nod, a signal that I'll be okay. He then turns to the others and clears his throat.

"Well, while you all were prying into Error's love life, I actually did something productive and came up with a plan." This earns a snicker from everyone in the group. I ignore them and focus on listening to Ink's plan. "As you all know, the thing that is currently destroying the AUs is virtually unstoppable." 

"Tch. You don't say?" Ink glares at Killer and continues. "So, we won't fight it virtually. Or physically, that is." 

"Uhm..." A gold-and-teal clad skeleton steps forward from in between Swap Sans and Science Sans. I recognize him as Dream Sans, or Dream.

"Sorry to discourage you Ink," he continues. "But if we aren't fighting it physically, then...how are we going to fight it?"

It all suddenly clicks. "We'Ll MoDiFy ThE cOdE," I answer as it falls into place. 

Ink nods, his eyelights changing in his mood shift. 

"Exactly," he replies excitedly. "We can set up barriers. And firewalls so it can't go through. And..." 

"Woah there, Ink. Slow your roll," Fell says. "I mean, this all sounds great but, uh, how do you know for sure it's going to work?"

Ink's smile turns from real too forced. His usually child-like expressions fall away, a blank expression settling over his face.

"I don't. But I do know I can't afford not to do anything at this point."